28 days ago. That must not have happened on the Dry Tortugas because there were birds all around the mangrove island. Per CDC guidelines all our snorkels, masks, fins, and vests are dipped into a solution of water and Buckeye International SaniQ, washed with fresh water, and then hung on the rail to dry. News Release Date: October 9, 2022 Contact: Allyson Gantt, 786-610-8023 Contact: Mike Litterst, 202-306-4166 Key West, Fla. - Concession-operated ferry service to Dry Tortugas National Park will resume on Monday, October 10 after engineers inspected the storm-damaged dock on Garden Key and determined it is safe to partially reopen. It was used as a prison during the Civil War. The shallow waters (5-15 feet) make snorkeling at the Dry Tortugas fun for everyone. Yankee Freedom, LLC is authori Drive, walk or ride your bicycle aboard one of our three ferries. Are you ready to book your ticket to the Dry Tortugas? The flight is awesome, getting into the park early is nice perk, and having a full afternoon in Key West after this excursion is also a big advantage. Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson Ferry Service. Guess what, we are NOT a quiet family. Take the Ferry to Dry Tortugas The best way for most park visitors to get to Dry Tortugas is by charter boat on the Yankee Freedom iii. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You have to go to the ferry in the morning when they open at 7AM and there is a wait list. Dry Tortugas National Park comprises a cluster of seven small islands, but most of the 100-square-mile park is water mesmerizingly blue, crystal-clear water worthy of your wildest tropical. The shallow waters (5-15 feet) make snorkeling at the Dry Tortugas fun for everyone. Go Snorkeling at Garden Key. 1. r/nationalparks. Please see our website for full policy. After you factor in lunch time and fully exploring Ft. Jefferson I found even that was too little time with the ferry option. When you take the ferry to the Dry Tortugas, you get to the island at about 10:30am. just wait until you experience the open-air restaurants and charming little shops of . Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Next we headed to the top and walked around the edge of the fort and the views just kept getting better and better. Does anyone know if it's worth it to show up REALLY early and wait in case you can get a spot from a no-show or cancellation? From the minute I saw a picture of the Dry Tortugas, part of the National Park Service,I have wanted to go there! Content from this Website may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced or used without written permission! Undoubtedly the most exciting way to get out to The Dry Tortugas, traveling by seaplane is also the fastest way to get there and gives you the most time on the island. The ferry is sold out for our dates that we are in town and the sea plane is way out of our budget. For the last 6+ years they have explored all over North America and share their top tips on things to do in locations with kids, along with road trip ideas and tips on RVing. If you normally do take it you should really consider taking it before you get on. Dry Tortugas Ferry | Key West Ferry Boat to Dry Tortugas National Park. Q: How do I make a camping reservation? There are two options for most people getting to Dry Tortugas which is located 70 miles from the coast of Key West, Florida. The only thing is there is no running water on the island so you have to come prepared. Now that would be amazing. If you want to try to standby for the day trip in case of no-shows please go to the Ferry Terminal on the morning you want to go. Q: Do you have spaces for xx/xx/xxxx? Due to the no refunds cancellation policy of the ferry, it's pretty unusual for people to not show up for reservations. A: You can check day trip and camping availability online. [CDATA[ (function(d, sc, u) { var s = d.createElement(sc), p = d.getElementsByTagName(sc)[0]; s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = u + '?v=' + (+new Date()); p.parentNode.insertBefore(s,p); })(document, 'script', '//aff.bstatic.com/static/affiliate_base/js/flexiproduct.js'); // ]]> Disclosure: A HUGE thank you to Historic Tours of America for hosting us on our trip. All rights reserved. All prices are in USD. Be the first to review this product! This site uses cookies. . The water color starts to change, the fort has old-fashion charm, and all the sooty terns birds are amazing. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-96967216', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Key West check the wait list daily and check in at the on ground ticket booth daily as well. You can only get to Dry Tortugas National Park by boat or by seaplane and these all leave from Key West, Florida. The ferry departs at 8:00 am and it takes 2.5 hours to get to Dry Tortugas National Park. So, if you want to visit the highlights of Dry Tortugas National Park and still have plenty of time in Key West, the half day tour, particularly the first time slot of the day, is a great option. Flickr Matthew Dillon. Line up in the order you arrive on the benches along the wall next to the front door of the Terminal. Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the most remote national parks in the USA. . It was the right decision. Private charter boat is your other option. It's a very small airport with just one waiting area and very few services. The seaplane to Dry Tortugas will charge entrance fees to park upon arrival. Getting to the Dry Tortugas by Ferry The Yankee Freedom is the ferry that connects Key West to Dry Tortugas National Park. Lea AFTER BOOKING PLEASE CALL TO CONFIRM RESERVATION (305) 222-1199. Every time we turned a corner or looked a different direction it was another amazing view. Showing up at 7:30 is not likely to work. There will be a signup sheet on a clipboard at the electric car rental desk under the Ferry Terminal. The most popular ways to get to Dry Tortugas National Park are the Yankee Freedom ferry and Key West Seaplane Adventures, but you can also get there using a permitted personal boat or a private charter. You should dress warmly if you're doing a Hells Canyon jet boat anytime but summer, but dress in layers. Neither of these locations are close to Key West. Your email address will not be published. It is expensive at $200 per adult. Youll hear captivating stories about the fort, its remarkable history and its surroundings. These beautiful, pristine beaches are a Key West attraction not to be missed. Dry Tortugas National Park: Fun trip - See 5,527 traveler reviews, 4,181 candid photos, and great deals for Key West, FL, at Tripadvisor. They have snorkel equipment that you can use while you are there. Enjoy the natural beauty of this top destination with your own personal seaplane charter. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. We were blown away by the colors of the water with the contrast of the fort. They warn you to be very careful since the closest hospital is over 2 1/2 hours away! Those days will not be available for reservations. We rounded the corner and their were hundreds of them all over the beach. Yankee Freedom: Wow! We had to capture it to share with you guys! It's just not the same experience at all . We really enjoyed our time in the Dry Tortugas and wished we had more than two and a half hours. The half-day excursion for four hours from Seaplane Adventures costs between $250 and $400 per person, while the full-day excursion for eight hours costs between $515 and $650 per person. The snorkeling is actually better at the reef. If you want a day trip you can book a ferry to Bimini or Grand Bahamas from Ft Lauderdale and come back the same day. You do need to book your trip in advance, providing names of the passengers, so planning a trip out to the islands is required. Your email address will not be published. Key West Seaplane Adventures is the only company that flies to Dry Tortugas National Park. Copyright 2023 Yankee Freedom III, LLC. The cost was about $165 per person ($15 cheaper with a National Park Pass). Join. Imagine sleeping under the stars, on an island 70 miles from civilization, with the warm tropical breezes blowing through palm trees and the rhythmic sound of the ocean waves playing in the background. Dry Tortugas National Park is located roughly 70 miles (113 kilometers) west of Key West, Florida. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-112876149', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flights or plan poorly, but the odd are very poor. The boat leaves at about 2:45pm so you only have about 4 hours to explore. Required fields are marked *. Cost: $644 per adult, $515.20 for children 12 and under National Park Fee: $15 (this is in addition to the seaplane ticket price) Grand Total: $659 Length of Time: 8 hours total; 40-minute flight each way and 6.5 hours on the island. The Dry Tortugas are a group of small islands composed of coral reefs located in the Gulf of Mexico at the end of the Florida Keys, United States. Duration to : 2.5 hours each way. Shipwrecks and Treasure Then when you land in Key West check the wait list daily and check in at the on ground ticket booth daily as well. The second-best option is to take the last flight of the day. beer and wine available . //